Advantage(s) to Shorter Chainstays...

So i have a Misfit Dissent singlespeed, and i recently shortened the chain and rearranged the bolts in the dropouts in order to shorten the wheelbase and/or to give me more room for adjustments in chain tension depending on my rear cog.

I know there are several factors like wheelbase, head angle, rake/trail, etc... that dictate a bike's handling characteristics but shorter Chainstay Lengths seems to be a popular trend/movement in recent bikes.

I assume a shorter overall wheelbase might handle more "tightly" and maybe improve traction with more weight over the rear wheel. But might that also cause you to be more prone to unintended wheelies on steep climbs? (taking rider skills out of the equation in this instance).

So what are the benefits and what should/might i notice with maybe 20mm shorter chainstays?

Ride it and give us your impressions. I have a Nimble 9 and I really like the way it is easy to wheelie and pull the front end up for drops and obstacles. It is fun and playful on the trails and even goofing around town and poping off curbs and such. As for unwanted wheelies when climbing, that does happen more with the Nimble but for my riding style I'll take the tradeoff. As for a SS that should never be a problem anyway.

The only time I notice a shorter wheel base is in super tight and techy terrain, particularly where there are alot of trees. It seems a bike can be quite a bit more whip-able and responsive with a tighter wheelbase.

there are some that prefer shorter stays for climbing (i'm assuming the steeper the more important)...i'm not one of those but that's what the sliders now have two sets of holes, to allow some customization of the stay length.

if you are feeling really frisky you can always add the link and reconfigure to compare, while the thought is fresh.

As others have mentioned shorter chainstays can be an advantage when climbing steep grades, but they also flex less so when you''re really gunning it you will get more power to the rear wheel. There are usually trade-offs though and a longer wheelbase bike is better for DH and overall comfort.